RAPID CITY - Bethany Holyoak got a hand in front of a potential tying 3-pointer by Dordt College's Julia DeKoekkoek, then sank a pair of free throws in the final seconds to boost the South Dakota School of Mines to its first women's basketball win of the season Saturday, a 63-59 triumph at Goodell Gymnasium.

With Mines leading 59-57 with 16.9 seconds left, Holyoak reached high to swat the trey attempt as it left DeKoekkoek's hand. Holyoak grabbed the loose ball, was fouled and her free tosses both hit the mark to give Mines a five-point cushion.

"That was a block heard around the world," said Mines coach Barb Felderman.

The Defenders couldn't take advantage of other opportunities down the stretch.

DeKoekkoek missed a mid-range look at the basket and also failed to convert on a pair of free tosses. McKinzie Schmidt also missed a field goal attempt.

"We had some very good opportunities to take the lead. We got good shots. We had offensive rebound chances and free throw line chances. It really hurts when you can't capitalize," said Dordt head coach Craig Stiemsma.

Amber Soodsma added a lightly contested basket to cut Mines' lead to three, but another free throw from Mines' Ariel Granillo all but sealed the win for the Hardrockers.

Mines committed 34 turnovers in dropping a 60-54 decision to Dana College in Friday's first game of the Dakota Athletic Conference-Great Plains Athletic Conference Challenge at Goodell Gym, but the Hardrockers looked much sharper in the opening moments against Dordt on Saturday.

Mines opened up a 12-0 lead before the Defenders finally broke the seal on the basket with a pair of free throws from Lesley Eldridge with more than six minutes gone in the first half.

Dordt gradually closed the gap on DeKoekkoek's 12 first-half points to trail by just four points at the break.

Despite struggling with a shooting percentage in the hard-freeze range, Dordt hung tough with the Hardrockers in the second half, finally tying the score at 49 on a trey from DeKoekkoek with 5:25 left in the game.

The tally would be deadlocked twice more down the stretch, but the Lady Hardrockers never relinquished the lead.

Four players topped double-figure scoring for Mines.

Holyoak and Granillo each had 13 points. Jerika Ihnen added 12 points, and Maria Luze had 10 points for the Hardrockers. Luze had the lone 3-pointer for Mines which was 1-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Mines shot 43.6 percent (24-of-55) from the field, while Dordt was just 18-of-69 for 26.1 percent.

Holyoak led Mines with 12 rebounds. She led Mines with 11 boards on Friday.

"For her slight frame, that's all heart," Felderman said "I was pleased with the kids. Obviously, we're in the learning stages. We learned from last night's game and corrected some things."

Dordt, (0-2 overall) dropped a 71-57 game to Black Hills State on Friday, was led by Soodsma's 20 points, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range. DeKoekkoek finished with 15 points and Brittany den Hoed added 10 points for the Lady Defenders.

Mines continues its early non-conference schedule on the road against Mount Marty College of Yankton and Dakota Wesleyan of Mitchell next weekend.

"I'm pleased with the win and with four days to make improvements for the road trip," said Felderman.