Kim Mulkey: Last-Tear Poa is available for LSU women's basketball vs Rice in March Madness

BATON ROUGE — LSU women's basketball seems to be heading to as close to full health as possible as March Madness arrives.

Tigers coach Kim Mulkey told reporters Thursday she expects junior point guard Last-Tear Poa to be able to play against No. 14 seed Rice in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center Friday (3 p.m., ESPN).

Poa suffered a concussion after her head banged off the court while attempting to take a charge late in the SEC Tournament semifinal game against Ole Miss nearly two weeks ago.

Mulkey said Poa practiced for the first time Wednesday and the guard was seen at No. 3 seed LSU's practice Thursday afternoon ahead of the opening round game against Rice.

"Yes, she should be available (to play) unless something has changed overnight," Mulkey said. "She did practice yesterday, so if you're out there practicing, I'm assuming you're cleared."

Poa missed the SEC Tournament championship game against South Carolina on March 10, the first game she's missed in the two years she's been at LSU (28-5).

When asked how she felt in the team locker room before the team's practice, Poa told reporters Thursday was going to be her first full practice with the team since the injury. The team did work through a light workout Wednesday and Poa was a participant in that session.

On the year, Poa has averaged 5 points per game and has taken 26 charges along with 37 steals.

With Poa in the rotation, it frees up Tigers senior guard Hailey Van Lith to play more off-ball guard, her natural position. The backcourt of Poa and Van Lith on the floor has been a pivotal lineup for LSU down the homestretch of the regular season when it went 10-0 before the loss to South Carolina the SEC title game without Poa.

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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. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.