Last-Tear Poa helps LSU Womens Basketball to first ever NCAA Womens Basketball Championship

A young Polynesian woman (#13 in the video above) via way of Melbourne has helped her US college basketball team - Louisiana State University Womens Basketball - to win their first ever National basketball title in the March Madness final on the 2nd of April 2023.

She was huge for LSU coming off the bench in their final game producing solid defence on Iowa's Caitlin Clark (who broke Sheryl Swoopes' record for most points in a NCAA Tournament all-time during the game), got Clark 2 fouls which benched her and then came up with a couple of big 3's! 

Last-Tear Poa is of Cook Islands/Tahitian heritage and her given name pays homage to her great-grandmother on her Polynesian side.

"I am named in her memory. It is a part of our culture" she said in an interview with The Advocate 

Her grandparents Richard and Debbie share the story of her name in the video below.

Poa started playing basketball when she was 10yrs old and after finding success in Australia decided to go to the US to see how she'd get on.

Last year she played for Northwest Florida State College and led her team to a NJCAA championship during her freshman season.

She then transferred to LSU for this season and earned a spot in the regular rotation of players.

As of now, Last-Tear Poa could be the first Cook Islands/Tahitian woman to win a NCAA womens basketball championship.

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