Freshman guard Julia Mingus delivered a breakout January for UIS women's basketball and has been named the UIS Athletics Jimmy John's Athlete of the Month for January 2026.

Mingus becomes the first freshman in UIS Athletics history to earn the department's Athlete of the Month honor, a recognition fueled by her consistency, efficiency, and impact during the Prairie Stars' 5-3 January stretch.

Across eight January games, Mingus totaled 101 points in 234 minutes, shooting 38.96 percent from the field, an elite 45.7 percent from three-point range, and 90.9 percent at the free-throw line. She added 15 rebounds, 18 assists, and 14 steals, consistently contributing on both ends of the floor.

Midway through the month, Mingus earned her first start and has started every game since. During January, she emerged as the national leader in three-point percentage and also ranks among the top 35 players in NCAA Division II in free-throw percentage, averaging better than 85 percent.

Mingus' level of production stands out among all GLVC players. She currently ranks first in the league in three-point percentage, 16th in steals, and 17th in scoring average (12.3 points per game), while also sitting among the conference's top performers at the free-throw line.

Mingus produced several standout performances throughout the month, highlighted by a 21-point effort at Southwest Baptist and 19 points at Quincy. She closed January with one of her most impactful outings, scoring 17 points in a win over No. 25-ranked Missouri-St. Louis, a performance that helped UIS knock off a nationally ranked opponent. She made 7-of-8 from the free throw line in that win.

Mingus follows teammate Kayla Rice, who earned Jimmy John's Athlete of the Month honors in December, marking back-to-back selections from the UIS women's basketball program. Her rapid rise into the starting lineup and national-level efficiency underscore a January to remember—and signal a bright future for the freshman guard and the Stars.

Jimmy John's Athlete of the Month
Athlete of the Month honorees will be recognized at the end-of-year UIS Athletics banquet and will also be considered for UIS Male, Female, or Rookie of the Year, based on their respective categories.

The Jimmy John's Athlete of the Month award is presented in partnership with Jimmy John's in Springfield, reflecting a shared commitment between Jimmy John's and UIS Athletics to celebrate excellence, teamwork, and achievement across all Prairie Star programs.

January 2026 Nominees
Julia Mingus, Women's Basketball
Kayla Rice, Women's Basketball
Britton Dutton, Men's Basketball
Isaiah Davis, Men's Basketball
Jordan Rice, Men's Basketball
Alex Stell, Men's Basketball
Madelyn Miller-Ross, Women's Indoor Track & Field
Colin Graham, Men's Indoor Track & Field
Cristina Mendoza Romero, Women's Tennis
Pablo Herrera, Men's Tennis
Luke Pennington, Men's Tennis
Rosie Bartletti, Softball
Sidney Sawer, Softball