The Lady Tigers have been no stranger to adversity over the years with injuries and illnesses impacting the team during coach Nikki Fargas’ tenure.
The Lady Tigers are facing adversity once again. Freshman guard Khayla Pointer lost her father Kirk Pointer to a heart attack on Nov. 5, the day of the Lady Tigers’ exhibition game. 
The death also affects Fargas, who’s sister was Kirk’s wife.
“She has been a strong young lady,” Fargas said. “She handles it as well as anyone could. She has been playing for her father. We were fully supportive of her. We have made sure that she has all the resources she needs – love, support, a shoulder to cry on.”
Kirk was a former NFL player for the Miami Dolphins and was Khayla’s AAU coach. 
Still, Khayla continued to play for LSU because it is what she thought her father would have wanted.
In LSU’s opener at South Florida on Nov. 10, Khayla played despite her father’s funeral the next day in Memphis.
The day after she returned for LSU’s home opener against Southeastern on Nov. 12, she put up a then- career-high 9 points.
“She was so strong about it,” said junior guard Chloe Jackson. “Each day she came into practice and made no excuses. She has been so strong and showed us we were her family. We embraced her.”
Prior to the South Florida and Southeastern games, there was a moment of silence in Kirk’s honor.
“We have tried to be very supportive of her,” said senior guard Raigyne Louis. “I have never had a teammate go through something like this. So to see how strong she has been, she has made it easy on us. She has so much strength, I don’t think I would have been able to do that.”
Khayla has taken her strength and brought it to the court.
After coming off the bench for the first three games, Pointer has started the last three games as a freshman for LSU.
“I am very thankful,” Khayla said. “Not many people come in and start as a freshman. I am still learning and adjusting to the game, it is not the same as high school. I will keep learning and getting better as the season goes on.”
She is currently tied for third in assists for the Lady Tigers and fifth on the team in points.
On top of everything, Khayla has had to adjust to the intensity of playing D-1 basketball.
“I think she has done pretty well transitioning from high school to college,” said Louis. “It took me awhile to get used to playing and college, so I think she will adjust well. I think she is adjusting quicker than I actually did.”
In LSU’s trip to Las Vegas, Khayla celebrated her birthday with her teammates as they knocked off St. Louis 71-59 on Nov. 25.
“It was pretty fun for me to spend my birthday with my team,” Khayla said. “It was a nice present to win. We went out and celebrated after, so that was pretty fun.”