North Iowa’s Amber Paden scored 18 points for North Iowa as the North Iowa Bison girls’ basketball team defeated the Northwood-Kensett Vikings 42-38 on Friday night in Buffalo Center.

“I don’t think I’ve been happier after a loss,” Northwood-Kensett coach Daryl Love said. “With us giving up height, our girls played as hard as they could all night.”

With the lack of size, North Iowa’s Amber Paden, who stands six feet two inches tall, scored 13 points before half-time to push the Bison out to an early 27-25 lead.

In the second half of the game, the Vikings held Paden to five points, all of them coming towards the end of the game the helped North Iowa pull out a 42-38 win.

Britney Low led the Vikings with 14 points on the night, while Jami Dahlby recorded 10 points.

The Vikings resume play on November 30, when they travel to Britt to take on West Hancock.

North Iowa 42, NK 38

NK 25 13 — 38

NI 27 15 — 42

Northwood-Kensett scoring- Britney Low 14 points, Jami Dahlby 10, Brooke Burnes 4, Mauren Davidson 4, Tessa Bratrud 2, McKensie Nicholson 2, Laura Slavikova 2.