She knocked the back of her head on the ground.
Her daughter ran to her aid as offenders grabbed the victim's purse and handbag.
Both men then fled.
Police "flooded the area", but the pair were not found.
The woman suffered a head injury and has been in hospital overnight.
At a press conference this afternoon, Detective Senior Sergeant Glenn Baldwin vowed to hunt down those responsible.
"I want to reassure the community that police are doing everything possible to catch the offenders," he said.
"We are doing everything we can to find the people responsible for this horrible crime."
Baldwin described it as a "deplorable attack on a vulnerable person".
"Our elderly have the right to feel safe in their own homes without the fear of something like this happening," he said.
"Fortunately this lady is not seriously injured, but we know from experience that the long-term effects for a victim in a crime like this are ongoing and traumatic."
He said attacks like this were not common, but could be frightening.
"Falling to the ground for an elderly person is quite a dramatic thing. That is not a transitory or trifling thing to happen to an elderly person," he said,
"Any type of home invasion type crime is very, very difficult for the victims."
Baldwin called on the offenders to hand themselves in.
"I want to say to the people who committed the crime: 'Come to us before we come to you, do the right thing.'"
Asked whether the attack was planned, Baldwin said police would be exploring "a number of options and possibilities".
Detectives are in the Mountain Rd area this morning, going door to door, asking people for more information.
CCTV footage will also be reviewed as part of inquiries.
"To anyone out there who even suspects that they might know who these people are, do the right thing. Tell us what you know," Baldwin said.
"This could be any of our grandparents."
The two men are believed to have been driving a metallic blue sedan, possibly lowered and of a similar shape to a Nissan Skyline. lt has a loud exhaust.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Auckland Central Crime Squad on (09) 302 6557. Private messages can also be sent to the Auckland City District Police Facebook page.
Information can also be given anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Description of alleged offenders:
Main alleged offender
• Aged 25 to 30
• Fair-skinned Maori or Pacific Islander
• Average build
• No facial hair
• Approximately 180-183cm tall
Second alleged offender
• Aged around 15 to late teens
• Fair-skinned Maori or Pacific Islander
• Wearing a tan-coloured hooded sweatshirt