Indian women's basketball team put up a valiant show to give New Zealand 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 74 (Geethu Anna Jose 18, Sheeba Maggon 16, Arnika Gujar 12, Divya Singh 11, P Anitha 10). Halftime 45-38.