Ciara Gregory didn’t make the NCAA Tournament when she played at Charlotte.

She will make her second appearance in the Big Dance as a coach.

The all-time leading girls scorer at Jeannette is a first-year assistant at Kentucky, which opens the tournament noon Friday against Liberty in the Spokane Region.

Fourth-seeded Kentucky (22-7) and No. 13 Liberty (26-6) will play a home game with the regional set for Historic Memorial Coliseum in Lexington.

Gregory, 29, made the tournament as an assistant at Charlotte, where she was a star known for her 3-point shooting.

She is a key part of coach Kenny Brooks’ staff. Brooks is The Sporting News Women’s College Basketball Coach of the Year.

Gregory spent five years at Charlotte, starting out as a graduate assistant before working three years in a full-time role.

She also serves as Kentucky’s director of recruiting operations.

Kentucky is 14-2 at home this season.

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