Indian women's basketball team put up a valiant show to give New Zealand [ Images ] a scare before going down narrowly to the hosts in the first of the three-Test series at Auckland on Friday.

In the first Test, the Tall Ferns managed an 85-74 win against the visitors at the North Shore Events Centre.

The quick and skillful Indians exhibited their command over shooting from the arc and garnered a lot of three-pointers to tie with the strongly built hosts (59-59) at one stage during the match.

However, the Tall Ferns, led by captain Donna Loffhagen's 19 points, were able to prove their supremacy and clinch the match.

Scores: New Zealand 85 (Donna Loffhagen 19, Angela Marino 17, Micaela Cocks 14, Jessica McCormack 12, Rebecca Cotton 10) beat India [ Images ] 74 (Geethu Anna Jose 18, Sheeba Maggon 16, Arnika Gujar 12, Divya Singh 11, P Anitha 10). Halftime 45-38.