Kim Mulkey talks about last-tear Poa's absence from LSU's exhibition against Xavier

BATON ROUGE – LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey declined to say why senior point guard Last-Tear Poa was not with the team for its first appearance against Xavier on Thursday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Poa was not present during the team's warm-up and was not on the team's bench during the game. LSU won its first test of the 2024-25 season against Xavier 114-53.

After the game, Mulkey told reporters that Poa “took care of business from the field.”

When asked if Poa would be away from the team for an extended period of time or if she wanted to share details about why she wasn't on the team, Mulkey said, “I've told you everything I'm going to tell you.”

The last time the media was able to be near the team was when preseason training began in late September. Poa was with the team and went through drills.

Poa has been a mainstay for the Tigers off the bench over the last two seasons under Mulkey. She only missed one game last season, the SEC Tournament Championship Game against South Carolina. She suffered a concussion near the end of the Ole Miss game in the tournament semifinals.

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While LSU sits deep at the guard position after Mulkey and her staff's offseason efforts in the transfer portal, Poa is the most experienced guard on the team, having played the past two seasons.

Poa averaged 20 minutes and scored 4.9 points per game last season, but was known more for her defensive prowess and ability to take offense.

With Poa out, Miami transfer Shyeann Day-Wilson took over the Tigers' point guard duties against Xavier. Day-Wilson scored 7 points with four assists.

Kim Mulkey on Sa'Myah Smith, Mikaylah Williams

Junior forward Sa'Myah Smith and sophomore sensation Mikaylah Williams also didn't play against Xavier but were with the team during warmups and sat on the bench during the game.

Mulkey said she “decided not to play Sa'Myah” while Williams sat out was more cautious as Mulkey revealed she twisted her ankle during practice on Tuesday.

“There’s no need to use them in a game like this,” Mulkey said.

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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Have questions about LSU athletics? Send it to Cory Diaz [email protected].

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