GALLOWAY (NJ) -- The Delaware Valley University women's basketball team battled New England College in the first round of the Stockton Tip-Off Tournament, but came up short in a 66-62 contest.

This game was back-and-forth right from the tip with the two team's playing to a tie four times in the first quarter alone, including 10-10 after Olivia Gorman hit one of two free throws for the Aggies (0-2) with 3:06 left. From there, the Pilgrims (1-0) outscored the Aggies 8-4 to take a four point lead into the second.

DelVal started the second quarter with an old-fashioned three point play from Danielle Skedzielewski and a traditional three by Lauren Moretti followed by a pair of free throws by Gorman to make it 22-18.

Again, the teams traded baskets throughout the stanza until New England went on a 7-2 run to close the half and take a 32-28 lead into the break. Moretti and Skedzielewski each had seven points to lead the Aggies in the first half.

DelVal took its first lead of the second half at 37-36 after Ashley Smink connected from beyond the arc and Gorman laid one in with 4:46 on the third quarter clock. That advantage was short lived as Kourtney Elmore gathered an offensive board on the other end and put it back for two as the Pilgrims went on to take a 44-43 lead into the final stanza.

The Aggies quickly regained the lead as Gorman hit a pair from the charity stripe to start the fourth.

New England then went on an 11-0 run over the next five minutes of action to open up the largest lead of the game at 55-45. Four different Pilgrims scored in the spurt led by five points from Elmore.

DelVal did not go away as Smink converted an and-1 and Morgan Mitchell hit a pair of free throws to cut the deficit in half with 3:48 left in regulation. The Aggies would get as close as four points twice down the stretch including in the final seconds after Moretti hit a three to make it 66-62, what would ultimately turn out to be the final.

DelVal shot just 29-percent (20-for-69) from the field, but did place four players in double-digit scoring including Smink who led the team with 13. Gorman, a freshman, had a nice night with 12 points, a team-high eight rebounds, and one block. Moretti and Skedzielewski finished with 10 and 11 points, respectively, while Moretti pulled down seven rebounds. Mitchell led all players in the game with four steals.

The Pilgrims shot 41.5-percent (27-of-65) from the field and were led by Elmore's 18 points. Jada Black had a game-high nine rebounds to go with 12 points and Jocelyn Vein finished with 10 points and seven boards.

The Aggies will compete in the consolation game tomorrow at 1 p.m. against Morrisville State College who fell to host, Stockton, 77-46, in the other first round matchup. Stockton and New England will tip-off at 3 p.m. for the tournament championship.