Melbourne Boomers defeat Perth Lynx 76-75 in thrilling finish to force third game WNBL decider

Lindsay Allen has inspired the Melbourne Boomers to a thrilling one-point 76-75 away win over Perth Lynx, forcing the WNBL grand final series into a third game decider.

The WNBL title is decided by a best of three series.

Melbourne hosted the opening game on Saturday but were comprehensively beaten by 27 points.

On Wednesday night in Perth, they again trailed by six in the first quarter, but guard Allen (29 points) and captain Cayla George (22 and 12 rebounds) were influential for the visitors.

Trailing by three with just 0.2 seconds left, Perth had a chance at the death to send the game into overtime, with Marina Mabrey fouled on a three-point shot.

Mabrey made the first two free throws but missed the crucial third.

It was a rare blip for the American, import, who scored 13 of her game-high 30 points in the final quarter, including a three-pointer with nine seconds left.

The series will now conclude in Melbourne on Saturday, with the Boomers attempting to win their first title in 10 years and Perth looking to land their first since 1992.

"[We're] just glad to be able to survive and to be able to play game at home in front of our fans," Allen told Fox Sports after the game.

«We know we're going to get Perth's best game in game three and we're going to bring our best as well.»

Allen hit three long bombs in the first quarter and had 19 against her name by the half.

George, who struggled in game one, scoring just seven, made three big plays in the final minute.

She hit a clutch three with 43 seconds left to give Melbourne a four-point lead, then forced a turnover by drawing a foul and hit two pressure free throws with seven seconds left.

Perth were up by three at quarter-time and trailed by the same margin at the end of the next two